|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE — Members of the Halifax County Business and
Professional Council yesterday presented their annual Martin Luther
King Day Program at The Prizery. Rev. Dr. Ralph Reavis of Lynchburg
(front, center) was the guest speaker for the event.
A big crowd turned out yesterday afternoon for the Martin Luther King
Day celebration at The Prizery. The Reverend Dr. Ralph Reavis of
Lynchburg gave a rousing speech, citing the life and activities of Rev.
King, noting that he was an apostle of civil disobeience in nonviolent
resistance.
"He felt that we could change the present trend of this nation by using
Gandhi's method of nonviolent resistance to evil with the ethnic of
Jesus, known as love. If anything could remedy the situation that
process could," the speaker explained.
Reavis said King had grown up with a bitter dislike for segregation and
those who oppressed black people and poor whites. During his college
days he had read Thoreau's "Essay on Civil Disobedience" and was deeply
moved by it.
King also insisted on reforms in educational structure, realizing that
the burden for financing adequate schools should be borne by the
federal government. More and better jobs also were important and
training for these jobs was stressed as was the need for better
housing. He also pushed for deeper participation in the voting and the
decision making process of the nation.
Reavis said of King "he was a member of an oppressed group, and he knew
tht his dream of the beloved community could not come to pass through
violent means. His deam could not be realized within the social order
as it existed. Knowing this, King dreamed any way. He not only dreamed,
but he projected that dream beyond the confines of his restrictions in
kind of eschatological language which was suspended between 'what is'
and 'what out to be.' King's dream always hung between freedom and
destiny. He believed that the realization of his dream was possible to
some degree in isolated moments of truth and freedom now."
From these beliefs, Reavis said, came King's famous "I Have a Dream"
speech.
The Emmanuel Seventh Day Adventist Male Chours presented special
selections, including "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "We Shall
Overcome." Mr. Lealand Luck, Secretary of the Council, introduced the
Master of Ceremony and Mr. Marcus Hargrave, President of the Council,
presented the welcome to the members of the audience and gave the
closing remarks